Thyme soup is a symbol of homely Catalan cooking — resourceful, traditional and full of warmth. With its soothing qualities, it transforms simple ingredients like stale bread, garlic and thyme into something delicious. Discover this timeless recipe and bring one of Catalonia’s most authentic flavours to the table. Ingredients Serves 4: 5 litres vegetable stock or water 200g stale rustic bread (ideally from the day before) 4 eggs 4 garlic cloves 4 sprigs of fresh thyme Extra virgin olive oil Salt Equipment: saucepan, whisk Preparation time: 25 minutes Difficulty: low Steps to follow Slice the bread into very thin pieces. For extra flavour, you can lightly toast the slices in the oven or in a frying pan, then set them aside. Add a good splash of olive oil to a saucepan over a medium heat. Peel the garlic cloves, crush them slightly with the flat of a knife and fry them gently in the oil until golden, taking care not to let them burn. Add the thyme sprigs to the pot and let them infuse in the oil for a minute. Then add the sliced bread and stir everything together. Pour in the vegetable stock (or water), bring to the boil, then reduce the heat. Let it simmer gently for about 15 minutes. The bread will soften and begin to break down. Use a whisk to stir occasionally and help break up the bread until you have a thick, rustic soup. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt if needed. Remove the larger thyme stems. With the soup gently simmering, crack the eggs one by one into the pot, letting the whites and yolks poach slowly in the hot broth. Once the whites have turned opaque, the soup is ready to serve. Presentation and recommended dressings Thyme soup should be served piping hot, straight from the pot. Divide the soup into individual bowls, making sure each person gets a poached egg. To finish the dish, drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil. For a more modern twist, you can serve the soup on its own and top it with a slow-cooked egg or even a raw egg yolk, which will gently cook in the heat of the soup. Other related recipes Stew and boiled meat Beef and mushroom stew Catalan-style cannelloni Bread with tomato and anchovies